Two days slipped by in a blink. With only one game on her PSP, Ye Wen had grown tired of it. All she wanted now was to leave the hospital and play on her home computer.
Qiu Yi should have stayed longer, but he and his parents decided to discharge him early. Though Ye Wen’s father covered the medical bills, relying on others’ money felt like owing a favor. Since his injuries weren’t severe, leaving made sense.
Ye Wen’s father finally gave in after another thorough checkup confirmed she was fine. Today, she’d go home too.
Dressed in simple casual wear with a white coat draped over her shoulders, Ye Wen stood at the hospital room door.
“Ye Wen!” Qiu Yi called out loudly from a nearby room. “Are you okay?”
Ye Wen shook her head expressionlessly.
*Does it still hurt?*
Qiu Yi blinked when he saw the words on her notepad. “…Why write it down?”
Ye Wen bit her lip, about to scribble a reply, but Shuizishi stepped in. “Miss can’t speak right now. The trauma left her temporarily mute. She communicates with notes.”
“What—how did this happen?!”
*Don’t worry. It’s temporary.* Ye Wen lowered her head, wrote quickly, and held up the page.
“…I’m sorry…”
Ye Wen tilted her head, puzzled. She drew a large question mark on her notepad.
“I failed to rescue you. Almost got you shot… It’s my fault…”
Ye Wen shook her head firmly.
*Not your fault.*
“…Ye Wen…” Qiu Yi’s voice trembled. His fingers shook slightly, his face flushed crimson. “I—I—I… that is…”
Ye Wen watched him, head still tilted.
“Uh… are you… really okay?!” After stammering for ages, those were the only words that tumbled out.
Shuizishi stood quietly nearby, already guessing what Qiu Yi had wanted to say.
*What’s wrong?*
“N-Nothing! I’ll head back first!” Qiu Yi spun around and dashed away.
Ye Wen waved at his retreating back, still confused.
“Miss, Mr. Liu is waiting downstairs with the car.”
Ye Wen nodded, pulled a chocolate bar from her pocket, and popped it into her mouth.
*Where’s Wang Hui?*
“He’s in the room next door.” Shuizishi took Ye Wen’s small hand and led her to another door. Ye Wen paused, gathered her thoughts, and knocked gently.
*Creak—* A young woman opened the door.
“I’m Wang Hui’s girlfriend. Who are you—?” Her face looked worn, shadows under her eyes from sleepless nights.
“We’re from the Ye family. This is the Ye family’s young miss,” Shuizishi introduced.
*Hello.* Ye Wen flipped to a pre-written page on her notepad.
“Ah? Oh! Hello…”
Ye Wen turned another page.
*I can’t speak right now due to… certain reasons.*
“Oh… um… here to see Wang Hui?”
Ye Wen nodded, her eyes asking permission to enter.
“Come in.”
Ye Wen stood by Wang Hui’s bedside. He was out of critical condition but still unconscious. She watched him silently, then placed a note in his girlfriend’s hand.
*Thank him for me.*
Next, she took a bouquet from Shuizishi and set it on Wang Hui’s nightstand. Tucked among the flowers was a card: *Get well soon.*
After saying goodbye to the woman, Ye Wen left the hospital.
Her parents and Mr. Liu waited downstairs.
“Wenwen—” Her mother hugged her tightly, stroking her hair. “Still can’t speak… my poor girl.”
Ye Wen shook her head, signaling it was fine, and quietly slid into the car’s backseat.
Mr. Liu drove. Ye Wen’s father sat shotgun; her mother and Shuizishi flanked Ye Wen in the rear.
“Wenwen, your father and I decided to buy an apartment near your school,” her mother said. “No more long drives through the suburbs for pickups.”
Ye Wen nodded.
“The building’s on a busy street,” her father added, leaning back. “Well-lit, crowded sidewalks. Very safe…”
Ye Wen slipped a note into his lap.
*Can we skip the bodyguards?*
“Hmm…” Her father thought a moment. “If kidnappers strike in broad daylight downtown, bodyguards might not help anyway. Fine. No bodyguards.”
Ye Wen hadn’t expected such a quick agreement. Relief washed over her—she’d worried about dragging more innocents into danger.
“Let Shuizishi handle your daily care,” her mother said, smoothing Ye Wen’s chest-length hair. “I’ll enroll her in self-defense classes too.”
“No problem~!” Shuizishi chirped.
Back home, Ye Wen loaded more games onto her PSP. The next few days passed quietly as she rested. She was growing used to silence, her writing speed improving daily.
While workers renovated their new apartment, Shuizishi attended a crash course in women’s self-defense. In her spare time, she studied household management under the head maid and butler.
A week flew by. Stuck at home too long, Ye Wen missed school.
“Miss! I’m back~!” After a week of training, Shuizishi burst into Ye Wen’s room early that morning.
Ye Wen, in pajamas and watching anime, turned and lifted her notepad.
*Welcome back.*
“Miss~ We move in today! Super close to school! And Master arranged my enrollment—you’ll have a classmate now!” Shuizishi’s face glowed with excitement. Ye Wen playfully pinched her cheek.
*Moving in today?* Ye Wen typed on her laptop.
“Yep! Right now! Pack nothing—it’s all ready!”
Ye Wen nodded and typed: *I need to change.*
“Ah, ah, our little miss is so shy…”
Ye Wen fixed Shuizishi with a stare.
“Okay, okay… I’m leaving…” Shuizishi ducked her head, feigning fear, and slipped out, closing the door softly.
A new home… huh?
